Ballots are to take place for contested seats on the seven service group executives, running from 7 April to 16 May.
The contested seats, and the candidates in the ballots, can be found at the end of this notice.
Voting process
Members not on the UNISON central membership system on 7 January 2014 will not be eligible to vote in these elections. Only full members are eligible to vote in this election.
Ballot papers
Ballot papers will be sent to members’ home or other notified address. Members will be provided with a prepaid envelope for the return of the ballot paper to the independent scrutineer. All voting will be by post.
Ballot papers will start being despatched to individual members on 7 April 2014.
Where members have previously requested (via the RMS) materials in a special format, such an large print, they will automatically receive the ballot pack in that format.
Any additional requests should be made to the ballot helpline.
Ballot helpline
If individual members have not received a paper by 14 April 2014, they should contact the ballot helpline operated by UNISONdirect on 0800 0 857 857.
Members with hearing difficulties can use textphone 0800 0 967 968.
Members should try to have their membership number to hand when telephoning.
The latest point at which members can request a ballot paper is 12 noon on 13 May 2014.
Please note that the ballot helpline can only deal with queries from individual members.
If branches believe there is a wide-scale problem with receipt of ballot papers among their members – for instance if whole departments or geographical areas have not received ballot papers – then the branch should contact their regional office.
NB water, environent and transport service group: voting packs for some members o the WET transport constituency were not despatched on 7 April due to an administrative error. Those members have been written to and voting packs have been sent to them.
Close of ballot and result
The deadline for receipt of ballot papers by the independent scrutineer is 5pm on Friday 16 May 2014.
NB water, environent and transport service group: The deadline for members of the transport consitutency affected by the problem above has been extended. For those members affected, and only those members , the deadline for receipt of ballot papers by the indepenent scrutineer is now 5pm on 23 Friday 23 May.
The result will be available on 9 June 2014 and the successful candidates will take office at the close of national delegate conference 2014.
Independent scrutineer and returning officer
The scrutineer and returning officer for this election is Electoral Reform Services, the contact details for which are: Electoral Reform Services The Election Centre, 33 Clarendon Road, London N8 0NW. Email unison@electoralreform.co.uk Fax 020 8365 7013. Tel 0208 365 8909
Complaints
Any complaint about the conduct or fairness of this election must be received no later than 5pm on 23 May 2014.
Complaints must be in writing and should enclose any supporting documentation. Complaints should be sent to the Returning Officer, Electoral Reform Services,
The Election Centre, 33 Clarendon Road, London N8 0NW. Email unison@electoralreform.co.uk Fax 020 8365 7013.
Queries
Any query regarding this information or this election should be directed to the member liaison Unit at the UNISON Centre. Telephone 020 7121 5312. Fax 020 7121 5196. Email elections@unison.co.uk
Seats and candidates
Community SGE
North West general: Isobel McVicar, Gavin Stalton
Health SGE
East Midlands general: Gary Freeman, Archie Welsh
Greater London female: Lucy McLean, Janet Maiden
Greater London general: Mike Davey, Jordan Rivera
North West general: Joe Fletcher, Karen Reissmann
Northern Ireland general: Roberta Magee, Tommy Steenson
South West general: Roger Davey, Mark Wareham
Higher education SGE
East Midlands female: Gwen Kemp, Diane Moss
Eastern general: Mark Dee Smith, Margaret Meredith
Greater London female: Molly Cooper, Elizabeth (Liz) Baptiste
Greater London general: Sandy Nicoll, Gwyn Jones
North West female: Katie Walford, Linda Holden
South East general: Ivan Bonsell, Jon Appleton
Local government SGE
East Midlands female: Jean Thorpe, Jeanette Lloyd
East Midlands general: Martin Sleath, Keith Circuit
Greater London female: Yvonne Green, Sue Plain
Greater London general: Oliver Wooller, John McLoughlin
Greater London reserved: Helen Steel, Irene Stacey
North West female: Brenda Hall, Andrea Egan
North West general: Glen Williams, Steven North
Northern general: Tina Roche, Debbie Lydon-Seagroatt
Scotland general: Duncan Smith, Jim McFarlane, Mark Ferguson
South East general: Jon Woods, Tim Cutter
Yorkshire and Humberside female: Stella Smethurst, Angela Waller
Yorkshire and Humberside general: Mike Forster, Sarah Littlewood, Mike Adamson
Police and justice SGE
Probation general (two seats): Neil Richardson, Kevin Allsop, Frank Radcliffe
Yorkshire and Humberside general: Ian Ventress, Garry Bull
Water, environment and transport SGE
Environment agencies female (two seats): Ruth Davies, Gill Shelton, Kate Hunter
Transport male: Mike Killian, Richard Sherratt
List of candidates nominated unopposed [Excel document]